Fan powered by an alternating current generator associated with a liquid-cooled engine of an engine system

ABSTRACT

A generator set is disclosed. The generator set may include a liquid-cooled engine and an alternating current (AC) generator coupled to the liquid-cooled engine. The generator set may include an AC fan associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the AC generator via a relay and an engine control module (ECM) associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the AC fan via the relay. The generator set may include an engine temperature sensor associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM via a first circuit and an engine air temperature sensor associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM via a second circuit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a fan and, moreparticularly, to a fan powered by an alternating current generatorassociated with a liquid-cooled engine of an engine system.

BACKGROUND

A plurality of internal combustion engine systems, wherein each enginesystem includes a generator (e.g., a main alternator), may be used invarious implementations to provide power to a load when a single enginesystem is not sufficient to provide power to the load. For example, aplurality of generators (e.g., which may be referred to as a “generatorset” or “genset”) may be configured to provide electrical power to aload that requires more power than a single generator can output. Insome cases, an engine system may include a fan to cool an engine of theengine system. However, in these cases the fan is a mechanically drivencomponent of the engine system and requires an elaborate mounting ofcomponents (e.g., pulleys, belts, etc.) on the engine. These componentsmay be expensive and/or prone to failure, damage, and/or the like.

One attempt to provide an electric cooling fan system for an air-cooledengine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,945,281 that was filed by Briggs& Stratton Corporation on Dec. 15, 2015 and issued on Apr. 17, 2018(“the '281 patent”). In particular, the '281 patent discloses anelectric cooling fan system for an air-cooled engine suitable for usewith small, outdoor power equipment, such as lawn mowers, ridingtractors, snow throwers, pressure washers, portable generators, and/orthe like. The electric cooling fan system disclosed in the '281 patentcan receive power directly from a standby generator (e.g., the electriccooling fan system may be electrically coupled to a charging system(e.g., an alternator) of an air-cooled internal combustion engine) andcan be configured to be powered by 120V alternating current.

While the electric cooling fan system of the '281 patent may be poweredby the charging system of an internal combustion engine, the '281 patentis explicitly directed to only a single, small air-cooled engine. Forexample, the '281 patent discloses that the electric cooling fan systemmay be used as an alternative to reduce noise levels associated with aconventional crankshaft mounted fan design for an air-cooled homestandby generator. Further, the '281 patent describes the electriccooling fan system as being configured to be powered by only 120V ofalternating current output by an air-cooled home standby generator.

The '281 patent does not disclose using a fan connected to analternating current generator (e.g., a main alternator) of a large,liquid-cooled engine of an engine system, to selectively cool theliquid-cooled engine and/or liquid coolant used to facilitate cooling ofthe liquid-cooled engine. Moreover, the '281 patent does not disclose afan being configured to be powered by alternating current output thatexceeds 120V. Therefore, the fan powered by an alternating currentgenerator associated with a liquid-cooled engine of an engine system ofthe present disclosure solves one or more problems set forth aboveand/or other problems in the art.

SUMMARY

According to some implementations, the present disclosure is related toan engine system. The engine system may include a liquid-cooled engineand an alternating current (AC) generator (e.g., a main alternator)coupled to the liquid-cooled engine. The engine system may include an ACfan connected to the AC generator via a relay and an engine controlmodule (ECM) connected to the AC fan via the relay. The engine systemmay include an engine temperature sensor, such as an engine coolanttemperature sensor, connected to the ECM via a first circuit and anengine air temperature sensor, such an engine air inlet temperaturesensor, connected to the ECM via a second circuit.

According to some implementations, the present disclosure is related toa machine. The machine may include a first engine system and a secondengine system. At least one of the first engine system or the secondengine system may include a liquid-cooled engine and an alternatingcurrent (AC) generator (e.g., a main alternator) coupled to theliquid-cooled engine. The at least one of the first engine system or thesecond engine system may include an AC fan associated with theliquid-cooled engine and connected to the AC generator via a relay, andan engine control module (ECM) associated with the liquid-cooled engineand connected to the AC fan via the relay. The at least one of the firstengine system or the second engine system may include an enginetemperature sensor, such as an engine coolant temperature sensor,associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM via afirst circuit, and an engine air temperature sensor, such as an engineair inlet temperature sensor, associated with the liquid-cooled engineand connected to the ECM via a second circuit.

According to some implementations, the present disclosure is related toa generator set. The generator set may include a liquid-cooled engineand an alternating current (AC) generator (e.g., a main alternator)coupled to the liquid-cooled engine. The generator set may include an ACfan associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ACgenerator via a relay and an engine control module (ECM) associated withthe liquid-cooled engine and connected to the AC fan via the relay. Thegenerator set may include an engine temperature sensor, such as anengine coolant temperature sensor, associated with the liquid-cooledengine and connected to the ECM via a circuit and an engine airtemperature sensor, such as an engine air inlet temperature sensor,associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM viathe circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example power system described herein.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of example engine systems that may be includedwithin the power system of FIG. 1, as described herein.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example process associated with a fan poweredby an alternating current generator associated with a liquid-cooledengine of an engine system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to a fan powered by an alternating currentgenerator associated with a liquid-cooled engine of an engine system.The fan powered by an alternating current generator associated with aliquid-cooled engine of an engine system has universal applicability toany machine utilizing such a fan powered by an alternating currentgenerator associated with a liquid-cooled engine of an engine system.The term “machine” may refer to any machine that performs an operationassociated with an industry such as, for example, mining, construction,farming, transportation, or any other industry. As some examples, themachine may be a generator system, a vehicle (e.g., a land-based vehicleor marine vehicle), a fracture rig, and/or the like. Moreover, one ormore implements may be connected to the machine and controlled using theengine system associated with the fan powered by the alternating currentgenerator associated with the liquid-cooled engine of the engine systemdescribed herein.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example power system 100 described herein.Power system 100 of FIG. 1 includes power generation system 110 with aplurality of engine systems 112 (shown as engine system 1 to enginesystem N, where N is an integer and N>1), an engine controller 120, anda load 130. The plurality of engine systems 112 may be referred toherein collectively as “engine systems 112” or individually as “enginesystem 112.” As shown and described herein, engine controller 120 maycontrol engine systems 112 of power generation system 110 to providemechanical and/or electrical power to load 130. In some implementations,load 130 may include one or more electrical power consuming devices,such as an air conditioning system for a manufacturing facility, anemergency lighting system for an office building, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the plurality of engine systems 112 may be aset of generators (e.g., which may be referred to as a “generator set”or “genset”) configured to provide electrical power to a load. Asdescribed herein, one or more of engine systems 112 may include acompression ignition, internal combustion engine. Additionally, oralternatively, one or more of engine systems 112 may include any othertype of internal combustion engine, such as, for example, a spark,laser, or plasma ignition engine. The engines of engine systems 112 maybe fueled by distillate diesel fuel, biodiesel, dimethyl ether,hydrogen, natural gas, propane, alcohol, ethanol, and/or the like,and/or any combination thereof. The engines of engine systems 112 may beliquid-cooled engines that use liquid coolant to facilitate cooling ofthe liquid-cooled engines. In some implementations, a liquid-cooledengine of an engine system 112 may include at least one component, suchas a coolant chamber, for holding the liquid coolant and allowing theliquid coolant to facilitate cooling the liquid-cooled engine.

In some implementations, each of the engine systems 112 may include asame type of engine. For example, all engine systems 112 may includeengines that are a same model, made by a same manufacturer, configuredto output a same amount of maximum power and/or torque, configured tooperate in a same manner, and/or the like. In some implementations, oneor more of the engines of the engine systems 112 may be a different typerelative to another engine of the engine systems 112. In such cases, afirst engine may be a first type of engine configured to output a firstamount of maximum power and a second engine may be a second type ofengine configured to output a second amount of maximum power that isdifferent from the first amount of maximum power. Furthermore, theengines of engine systems 112 may be made by a different manufacturerand/or be a different model of engine.

Engine controller 120 may include one or more devices that provide powercontrol information to control power output from power generation system110. In some implementations, engine controller 120 may be implementedas a processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), an acceleratedprocessing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or another type ofprocessing component. The processor may be implemented in hardware,firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. In someimplementations, engine controller 120 may include one or moreprocessors capable of being programmed to perform a function. In someimplementations, one or more memories, including a random access memory(RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic orstatic storage device (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/oran optical memory) may store information and/or instructions for use byengine controller 120. In some implementations, engine controller 120may include a memory (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium)capable of storing instructions, that when executed, cause the processorto perform one or more processes and/or methods described herein.

Engine controller 120 may include any appropriate type of engine controlsystem configured to perform optimization functions, prioritizationfunctions, and/or power control functions. In operation, enginecontroller 120 may execute computer software instructions to performvarious control functions and processes to control power generationsystem 110. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, engine controller 120(e.g., via execution of the computer software instructions) providespower control information to power generation system 110 to providepower output to load 130, which may include one or more devices drivenby electrical power.

As indicated above, FIG. 1 is provided as an example. Other examples arepossible and may differ from what is described in connection with FIG.1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example power generation system 200 thatincludes a plurality of engine systems 202 (shown as engine system 1 toengine system N, where N is an integer and N>1). Engine system 202-1 isa representative engine system of the plurality of engine systems 202.In some implementations, engine system 202-1 may include one or morecomponents, such as a liquid-cooled engine 204, an alternating current(AC) generator 206 (e.g., a main alternator), a relay 208, an AC fan210, an engine control module (ECM) 212, an engine temperature sensor214, an engine air temperature sensor 216, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the liquid-cooled engine 204 may be aliquid-cooled engine that uses a liquid coolant to facilitate cooling ofthe liquid-cooled engine 204. In some implementations, the liquid-cooledengine 204 may include at least one component, such as a coolantchamber, for holding the liquid coolant and allowing the liquid coolantto facilitate cooling the liquid-cooled engine 204.

In some implementations, the AC generator 206 may be operably coupled tothe liquid-cooled engine 204. For example, the liquid-cooled engine 204may be configured to cause rotation of one or more components of the ACgenerator 206. In some implementations, the AC generator 206 may includean alternator that is configured to convert the mechanical input fromthe liquid-cooled engine 204 into electricity. For example, the ACgenerator 206 may include a rotor assembly coupled to a rotating shaftof the liquid-cooled engine 204 (e.g., via engine pulleys) andconfigured to rotate within a stator assembly to generate electricalenergy. In some implementations, the AC generator 206 may convert themechanical input from the liquid-cooled engine 204 into AC electricity.In some implementations, the alternating current electricity may have avoltage range, such as a voltage range of 200-380 volts. In someimplementations, the AC generator 206 may be configured to supplygenerated electrical energy to meet an electrical load in the form ofelectrical current supplied through one or more electrical connections.In some implementations, the AC generator 206 may provide AC electricityto the AC fan 210 via the one or more electrical connections and/orrelay 208.

In some implementations, an electrical connection, of the one or moreelectrical connections, may be an electrical circuit. In someimplementations, the one or more electrical connections may allowelectrical current to flow from one electrical component to anotherelectrical component. For example, the one or more electricalconnections may allow electrical current (e.g., AC electricity) to flowfrom the AC generator 206 to the AC fan 210 via the relay 208 to allowthe AC fan 210 to operate.

In some implementations, the AC fan 210 may be connected to the ACgenerator 206 via the one or more electrical connections and/or therelay 208. In some implementations, the AC fan 210 may operate using thealternating current electricity generated by the AC generator 206 (e.g.,a main alternator). In some implementations, the AC fan 210 may operateusing alternating current electricity within a voltage range, such as avoltage range of 200-380 volts.

In some implementations, the AC fan 210 may produce airflow to cool theliquid-cooled engine 204 and/or the liquid coolant used to facilitatecooling of the liquid-cooled engine 204. For example, the AC fan 210 maybe pointed toward the liquid-cooled engine 204 to direct the airflowproduced by the AC fan 210 at the liquid-cooled engine 204 to cool theliquid-cooled engine 204. As another example, the AC fan 210 may bepointed toward at least one particular component of the liquid-cooledengine 204, such as a coolant chamber of the liquid-cooled engine 204,to direct the airflow produced by the AC fan 210 at the at least oneparticular component to cool the liquid coolant. In someimplementations, the AC fan 210 may produce an amount of airflow withinan airflow amount range, such as 5,000-45,000 cubic meters per hour.

In some implementations, the AC fan 210 may be connected to the ECM 212via the one or more electrical connections and relay 208. In someimplementations, the ECM 212 may include one or more devices thatprovide control of the liquid-cooled engine 204, the relay 208, and/orthe AC fan 210. In some implementations, the ECM 212 is implemented as aprocessor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), an acceleratedprocessing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or another type ofprocessing component. The processor is implemented in hardware,firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. In someimplementations, the ECM 212 may include one or more processors capableof being programmed to perform a function. In some implementations, oneor more memories, including a random access memory (RAM), a read onlymemory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device(e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) maystore information and/or instructions for use by the ECM 212. In someimplementations, the ECM 212 may include a memory (e.g., anon-transitory computer-readable medium) capable of storinginstructions, that when executed, cause the processor to perform one ormore processes and/or methods described herein.

In some implementations, the ECM 212 may execute the instructions toperform various control functions and processes to control theliquid-cooled engine 204, the relay 208, and/or the AC fan 210. In someimplementations, the ECM 212 may include any appropriate type of enginecontrol system configured to perform engine control functions such thatthe liquid-cooled engine 204 may operate properly. In someimplementations, the ECM 212 may control the relay 208 to selectivelyoperate the AC fan 210 (e.g., activate and/or deactivate the AC fan 210,turn the AC fan 210 on and/or off, and/or the like). For example, theECM 212 may control the relay 208 to allow alternating currentelectricity to flow from the AC generator 206 to the AC fan 210, whichcauses the AC fan 210 to operate. As another example, the ECM 212 maycontrol the relay 208 to prevent alternating current electricity fromflowing from the AC generator 206 to the AC fan 210, which causes the ACfan 210 to cease operating. In some implementations, the ECM 212 maycontrol the AC fan 210 by sending one or more signals (e.g., anactivation signal and/or a deactivation signal) to the AC fan 210.

In some implementations, the relay 208 may be an electromechanicalrelay, a solid state relay, and/or the like. In some implementations,the relay 208 is connected to the AC generator 206 and the AC fan 210via the one or more electrical connections in order to allow the ACgenerator 206 to send AC electricity to the AC fan 210. In someimplementations, the relay 208 is connected to the AC fan 210 and theECM 212 via one or more electrical connections in order to allow the ECM212 to control the AC fan 210 (e.g., by allowing the ECM 212 to send anactivation signal and/or deactivation signal to the AC fan 210). In someimplementations, the ECM 212 may control the relay 208 to allow the ACgenerator 206 to send AC electricity to the AC fan 210, and/or toprevent the AC generator 206 from sending AC electricity to the AC fan210.

In some implementations, the ECM 212 is connected to the enginetemperature sensor 214 and/or the engine air temperature sensor 216 viathe one or more electrical connections. In some implementations, theengine temperature sensor 214 may be an engine coolant temperaturesensor. In some implementations, the engine temperature sensor 214 maydetermine an engine temperature associated with the liquid-cooled engine204 and/or the liquid coolant used by the liquid-cooled engine 204, suchas a temperature of the liquid-cooled engine 204, a temperature of acomponent of the liquid-cooled engine 204, a temperature of the liquidcoolant used to cool the liquid-cooled engine 204, a temperature of acomponent of the liquid-cooled engine 204 used to hold the liquidcoolant, and/or the like. In some implementations, the enginetemperature sensor 214 may send engine temperature data to the ECM 212via the one or more electrical connections. In some implementations, theengine temperature sensor 214 may send a signal to the ECM 212indicating whether the engine temperature satisfies an enginetemperature threshold (e.g., whether the engine temperature is greaterthan or equal to the engine temperature threshold, whether the enginetemperature is less than the engine temperature threshold, and/or thelike).

In some implementations, the engine air temperature sensor 216 may be anengine air inlet temperature sensor. In some implementations, the engineair temperature sensor 216 may determine an engine air temperatureassociated with the liquid-cooled engine 204, such as a temperature ofambient air around the liquid-cooled engine 204, a temperature of airwithin the liquid-cooled engine 204, a temperature of air entering acompressor of the liquid-cooled engine 204, and/or the like. In someimplementations, the engine air temperature sensor 216 may send engineair temperature data to the ECM 212 via the one or more electricalconnections. In some implementations, the engine air temperature sensor216 may send a signal to the ECM 212 indicating whether the engine airtemperature satisfies an engine air temperature threshold (e.g., whetherthe engine air temperature is greater than or equal to the engine airtemperature threshold, whether the engine air temperature is less thanthe engine air temperature threshold, and/or the like).

In some implementations, the ECM 212 may obtain the engine temperaturedata from the engine temperature sensor 214 and/or the engine airtemperature data from the engine air temperature sensor 216 to controloperation of the AC fan 210. In some implementations, the ECM 212 mayselectively turn the AC fan 210 on and/or off based on the enginetemperature data and/or the engine air temperature data. For example,the ECM 212 may turn the AC fan 210 on (e.g., activate the AC fan 210)when the engine temperature data indicates that the engine temperaturesatisfies the engine temperature threshold (e.g., the engine temperatureis greater than or equal to the engine temperature threshold) and/or theengine air temperature data indicates that the engine air temperaturesatisfies the engine air temperature threshold (e.g., the engine airtemperature is greater than or equal to the engine air temperaturethreshold). As another example, the ECM 212 may turn the AC fan 210 off(e.g., deactivate the AC fan 210) when the engine temperature dataindicates that the engine temperature does not satisfy the enginetemperature threshold (e.g., the engine temperature is less than theengine temperature threshold) and/or the engine air temperature dataindicates that the engine air temperature does not satisfy the engineair temperature threshold (e.g., the engine air temperature is less thanthe engine air temperature threshold).

In some implementations, the ECM 212 may receive the signal indicatingwhether the engine temperature satisfies an engine temperature thresholdfrom the engine temperature sensor 214. In some implementations, the ECM212 may activate and/or deactivate the AC fan 210 based on the signalindicating whether the engine temperature satisfies the enginetemperature threshold (e.g., activate the AC fan 210 if the signalindicates that the engine temperature satisfies the engine temperaturethreshold, deactivate the AC fan 210 if the signal indicates that theengine temperature does not satisfy the engine temperature threshold,and/or the like). In some implementations, the ECM 212 may receive thesignal indicating whether the engine air temperature satisfies an engineair temperature threshold from the engine air temperature sensor 216. Insome implementations, the ECM 212 may activate and/or deactivate the ACfan 210 based on the signal indicating whether the engine airtemperature satisfies the engine air temperature threshold (e.g.,activate the AC fan 210 if the signal indicates that the engine airtemperature satisfies the engine air temperature threshold, deactivatethe AC fan 210 if the signal indicates that the engine air temperaturedoes not satisfy the engine air temperature threshold, and/or the like).

Accordingly, some implementations allow the AC generator 206 (e.g., amain alternator) to provide AC electricity to the AC fan 210 and/orallow the ECM 212 to control operation of the AC fan 210. In this way,the engine system 202-1 does not need a mechanically driven fan to coolthe liquid-cooled engine 204 and/or the liquid coolant used tofacilitate cooling of the liquid-cooled engine 204.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 2 are provided asan example. In practice, there may include additional components, fewercomponents, different components, or differently arranged componentsthan those shown in FIG. 2. Additionally, or alternatively, a set ofcomponents (e.g., one or more components) of power generation system 200may perform one or more functions described as being performed byanother set of components of power generation system 200.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an example process 300 associated with a fanpowered by an alternating current generator associated with aliquid-cooled engine of an engine system. In some implementations, oneor more process blocks of FIG. 3 may be performed by an engine controlmodule (ECM) (e.g., ECM 212). In some implementations, one or moreprocess blocks of FIG. 3 may be performed by another device or a groupof devices separate from or including the ECM, such as an alternatingcurrent (AC) fan (e.g., AC fan 210), a relay (e.g., relay 208), anengine temperature sensor (e.g., engine temperature sensor 214), anengine air temperature sensor (e.g., engine air temperature sensor 216),and/or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, process 300 may include obtaining engine temperaturedata and/or engine air temperature data (block 310). For example, theECM (e.g., using one or more processors, one or more memories, and/orthe like) may obtain engine temperature data and/or engine airtemperature data, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 3, process 300 may include determining that the enginetemperature satisfies a first threshold and/or the engine airtemperature satisfies a second threshold (block 320). For example, theECM (e.g., using one or more processors, one or more memories, and/orthe like) may determine that the engine temperature satisfies a firstthreshold and/or the engine air temperature satisfies a secondthreshold, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 3, process 300 may include causing an alternatingcurrent (AC) fan to direct airflow at a liquid-cooled engine to cool theliquid-cooled engine and a liquid coolant used by the liquid-cooledengine to facilitate cooling of the liquid-cooled engine (block 330).For example, the ECM (e.g., using one or more processors, one or morememories, and/or the like) may cause an alternating current (AC) fan todirect airflow at a liquid-cooled engine to cool the liquid-cooledengine and a liquid coolant used by the liquid-cooled engine tofacilitate cooling of the liquid-cooled engine, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 3, process 300 may include obtaining additional enginetemperature data and/or additional engine air temperature data (block340). For example, the ECM (e.g., using one or more processors, one ormore memories, and/or the like) may obtain additional engine temperaturedata and/or additional engine air temperature data, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 3, process 300 may include determining that the enginetemperature does not satisfy the first threshold and/or the engine airtemperature does not satisfy the second threshold (block 350). Forexample, the ECM (e.g., using one or more processors, one or morememories, and/or the like) may determine that the engine temperaturedoes not satisfy the first threshold and/or the engine air temperaturedoes not satisfy the second threshold, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 3, process 300 may include causing the AC fan to ceaseoperating (block 360). For example, the ECM (e.g., using one or moreprocessors, one or more memories, and/or the like) may cause the AC fanto cease operating, as described above.

Although FIG. 3 shows example blocks of process 300, in someimplementations, process 300 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 3. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 300 may be performed in parallel.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In some instances, a power generation system may include a plurality ofengine systems, where an engine system, of the plurality of enginesystems, includes a liquid-cooled engine and one or more electricalcomponents. In some instances, the engine system includes a generator(e.g., a main alternator for providing electrical power to a load) aswell as a mechanically driven fan to cool the liquid-cooled engineand/or liquid coolant used to facilitate cooling of the liquid-cooledengine. However, the mechanically driven fan includes expensive, complexmechanical components that need to be mounted on the liquid-cooledengine of the engine system. Further, the mechanical components areprone to failure, damage, and/or the like and require regularmaintenance and repair, which affects the operation and/or availabilityof the engine system.

According to some implementations described herein, a power generationsystem includes one or more engine systems, where an engine system(e.g., engine system 202-1) may include a liquid-cooled engine (e.g.,liquid-cooled engine 204), an AC generator (e.g., AC generator 206),such as a main alternator, an AC fan (e.g., AC fan 210), and an ECM(e.g., ECM 212). In some implementations, the AC generator may becoupled to the liquid-cooled engine. In some implementations, the AC fanmay be connected to the AC generator and/or the ECM via a relay (e.g.,relay 208) and one or more electrical connections. In someimplementations, the ECM may be connected to one or more sensors, suchas engine temperature sensor (e.g., engine temperature sensor 214), anengine air temperature sensor (e.g., engine air temperature sensor 216),and/or the like via the one or more electrical connections.

Accordingly, the AC generator may generate and provide AC electricity tothe AC fan, which may be controlled by the ECM to cool the liquid-cooledengine and/or liquid coolant used by the liquid-cooled engine tofacilitate cooling of the liquid-cooled engine. Therefore, theliquid-cooled engine may not need a mechanically driven fan to cool theliquid-cooled engine and/or the liquid coolant. As a result, themechanical complexity of the engine system associated with theliquid-cooled engine may be reduced. This may increase the life of theengine system and/or reduce the amount of maintenance that the enginesystem requires. Accordingly, costs associated with maintaining theengine system can be decreased and/or minimized.

As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one ormore items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Also, asused herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intendedto be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended tomean “based, at least in part, on.”

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of theimplementations. It is intended that the specification be considered asan example only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated bythe following claims and their equivalents. Even though particularcombinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed inthe specification, these combinations are not intended to limit thedisclosure of possible implementations. Although each dependent claimlisted below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure ofpossible implementations includes each dependent claim in combinationwith every other claim in the claim set.

What is claimed is:
 1. An engine system, comprising: a liquid-cooledengine; an alternating current (AC) generator coupled to theliquid-cooled engine; an AC fan connected to the AC generator via arelay; an engine control module (ECM) connected to the AC fan via therelay; an engine temperature sensor connected to the ECM via a firstcircuit; and an engine air temperature sensor connected to the ECM via asecond circuit.
 2. The engine system of claim 1, wherein the AC fan isto direct airflow at a liquid coolant that cools the liquid-cooledengine.
 3. The engine system of claim 1, wherein the liquid-cooledengine is cooled using a liquid coolant, wherein the engine temperaturesensor is to determine a temperature of the liquid coolant.
 4. Theengine system of claim 1, wherein the engine air temperature sensor isto determine a temperature of ambient air around the liquid-cooledengine.
 5. The engine system of claim 1, wherein the ECM is to controlthe relay to selectively operate the AC fan.
 6. The engine system ofclaim 1, wherein the ECM is to obtain engine temperature data from theengine temperature sensor and engine air temperature data from theengine air temperature sensor.
 7. The engine system of claim 6, whereinthe ECM is to control, based on the engine temperature data and theengine air temperature data, operation of the AC fan.
 8. A machine,comprising: a first engine system; and a second engine system, whereinat least one of the first engine system or the second engine systemincludes: a liquid-cooled engine, an alternating current (AC) generatorcoupled to the liquid-cooled engine, an AC fan associated with theliquid-cooled engine and connected to the AC generator via a relay, anengine control module (ECM) associated with the liquid-cooled engine andconnected to the AC fan via the relay, an engine temperature sensorassociated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM via afirst circuit, and an engine air temperature sensor associated with theliquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM via a second circuit. 9.The machine of claim 8, wherein the ECM is to control the liquid-cooledengine and the AC fan, wherein the AC fan is to cool a liquid coolant ofthe liquid-cooled engine.
 10. The machine of claim 8, wherein the ECM isto selectively turn the AC fan on and off based on at least one ofengine temperature data from the engine temperature sensor or engine airtemperature data from the engine air temperature sensor.
 11. The machineof claim 8, wherein the ECM is to obtain engine temperature data fromthe engine temperature sensor and engine air temperature data from theengine air temperature sensor.
 12. The machine of claim 11, wherein theECM is to activate the AC fan based on the engine temperature dataindicating an engine temperature that satisfies a threshold.
 13. Themachine of claim 11, wherein the ECM is to activate the AC fan based onthe engine air temperature data indicating an engine air temperaturethat satisfies a threshold.
 14. A generator set, comprising: aliquid-cooled engine; an alternating current (AC) generator coupled tothe liquid-cooled engine; an AC fan associated with the liquid-cooledengine and connected to the AC generator via a relay; an engine controlmodule (ECM) associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected tothe AC fan via the relay; an engine temperature sensor associated withthe liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM via a circuit; and anengine air temperature sensor associated with the liquid-cooled engineand connected to the ECM via the circuit.
 15. The generator set of claim14, wherein the liquid-cooled engine is to use a liquid coolant to coolthe liquid-cooled engine, wherein the AC fan is to direct airflow at theliquid-cooled engine to cool the liquid-cooled engine and the liquidcoolant.
 16. The generator set of claim 14, wherein the relay is anelectromechanical relay that is to allow the ECM to send an activationsignal to the AC fan.
 17. The generator set of claim 14, wherein therelay is a solid state relay that is to allow the AC generator to sendAC electricity to the AC fan.
 18. The generator set of claim 14, whereinthe ECM is to activate the AC fan based on receiving a signal from theengine air temperature sensor indicating that an engine air temperatureassociated with the liquid-cooled engine satisfies a threshold.
 19. Thegenerator set of claim 14, wherein the ECM is to activate the AC fanbased on receiving a signal from the engine temperature sensorindicating that an engine temperature of the liquid-cooled enginesatisfies a threshold.
 20. The generator set of claim 14, wherein theECM is to deactivate the AC fan upon receiving: a signal from the enginetemperature sensor indicating that an engine temperature of theliquid-cooled engine does not satisfy a first threshold; or a signalfrom the engine air temperature sensor indicating that an engine airtemperature associated with the liquid-cooled engine does not satisfy asecond threshold.